Synergistic Approaches for Sustainable Remediation of Organic Contaminated Soils: Integrating Biochar and Phytoremediation

Hao Fang, Cailing Zhou (), Dong-Xing Guan, Muhammad Azeem and Gang Li
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Hao Fang: State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Cailing Zhou: State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Dong-Xing Guan: State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Muhammad Azeem: State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Gang Li: State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-24

Abstract: Various industrial and agricultural activities have led to significant organic pollution in soil, posing an ongoing threat to both soil ecosystems and human health. Among the available remediation methods, phytoremediation and biochar remediation are recognized as sustainable and low-impact approaches. However, individual remediation methods often have limitations, such as plant susceptibility to adverse soil conditions and the desorption of pollutants from biochar. Therefore, integrating biochar with phytoremediation for the remediation of organic-contaminated soils provides a complementary approach that addresses the drawbacks of applying each method alone. The key mechanism of this combined technology lies in the ability of biochar to enhance plant resilience, plant absorption of pollutants, and the degradation capacity of rhizosphere microorganisms. Simultaneously, plants can completely degrade pollutants adsorbed by biochar or present in the soil, either directly or indirectly, through root exudates. This review systematically explores the mechanisms underlying the interactions between biochar and phytoremediation, reviews the progress of their application in the remediation of organic-contaminated soils, and discusses the associated challenges and prospects.

Keywords: soil remediation; organic contamination; biochar; phytoremediation; integrated remediation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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